Marking apparatus



Dec. 3, 1963 l.. J. TALARlco 3,112,690

MARKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1961 Dec. 3, 1963 I l.. J. TALARlco 3,112,690

MARKING APPARATUS Filed oct. 26, 1961 2 sheets-sheet 2 c /00 AoRNEY United States Patent 3,l2,56 MAQXQNG ABPAATUS Lawrence 3. alarico, South Piainiieid, N5., assigner to Adoiph Gottscno, inc., Hillside, NJ., a corporation of New York Filled (Eet. 26, 196i, Ser. N M7542 6 Qiainas. (El. lill-35) This invention relates generally to marking apparatus and is particularly directed to improvements in apparatus for automatically marking a side surface and the back end surface of each of a succession of boxes, cartons and the like conveyed, in spaced apart relationship, past the marking apparatus.

Marking apparatus has been heretofore proposed for performing the above described function, for example, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,834,288, or in United States Letters Patent No. 2,880,669, both of which have been assigned to the assignee of the present application, but such existing apparatuses have certain functional disadvantages which it is desirable to avoid. More specifically, the marking apparatus disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,880,669 is actuated its operation, upon a driving force frictionally transmitted from the conveyed box, carton and the like which is to be marked, and this frictional transmission of the driving or operating force tends to be unreliable, particularly when the conveyed box or carton is moving at a relatively high speed. rthe marking apparatus disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,880,669 is actuated by an electrically energized solenoid and has proven to be relatively expensive to manufacture, as well as being unsuitable for use in an explosive or other environment in which electrical apparatus cannot be conveniently employed. Further, when it is desired to mark a side surface and the back end surface of each of a succession of conveyed boxes or cartons by a marking apparatus of the existing types mentioned above, and, at the same time, to mark the other side surface and the front end surface of each conveyed box or carton by a marking apparatus of the kind disclosed fully in United States Letters Patent No 2,834,287, which is also assigned to the same assignee as the present application, the marking apparatuses employed for marking the back end and side surfaces and the front end and side surfaces, respectively, of each box or carton are made Lp of wholly different components and sub-assemblies so that the manufacturer of such marking apparatus must bear the obviously relatively high cost of producing numerous different parts, components and sub-assemblies, and of maintaining adequate supply of replacement or spare parts, components and sub-assemblies.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages of the existing or previously proposed marking apparatuses for appiying markings to a side surface and the back end surface of each of a succession of boxes, cartons and the like conveyed past the marking apparatus.

More specically, it is an object of the invention to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive marking apparatus for reliably performing the above stated function, and which is constructed from numerous parts, components and sub-assembiies of the same type as those included in the marking apparatus for applying markings to the front end and a side surface of each of a succession of conveyed boxes or cartons, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,834,287.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a marking apparatus for marking a side surface and the back end surface of each of a succession of boxes or cartons conveyed, in spaced apart relationship, past the marking ice apparatus comprises a marking wheel provided with a locking or latching device and being rotatably mounted on the free end of an arm which is pivoted, adjacent its other end, on a supporting structure disposed at one side of the conveyor carrying the boxes or cartons to be marked, all as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,834,287, but with the pivoted arm extending from its vertical pivoting axis generally in the direction opposed to the direction of movement of the conveyed boxes or cartons, and with the swinging of the pivoted arm for moving the marking wheel into and out of the path of the conveyed boxes or cartons being effected by suitably controlling the supplying of iluid under pressure, for example, compressed air, to an actuating cylinder hav ing a piston reciprocable therein and provided with a rod x which is connected to the pivoted arm.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the supplying of the fluid under pressure to the actuating cylinder of the marking apparatus is controlled by the successive conveyed boxes or cartons so that, upon a box or carton reaching a predetermined position with respect to the marking apparatus, the pivoted arm is angularly urged toward the path of the conveyed box or carton so as to contact the marking wheel initially with a side surface of the box or carton for applying the desired markings first to such side surface and then to the back end surface of the box or carton, whereupon the pivoted arm is automatically displaced angularly to an inoperative position at the side of the path of the conveyed boxes or cartons so as to avoid interference with the movement past the marking apparatus of the next conveyed box or carton. Further, the control of the supply of fluid under pressure to the actuating cylinder by the successive conveyed boxes or cartons is arranged so that, in the event that the spacing between adjacent conveyed boxes or cartons is inadequate to permit the completion of a marking operation, the pivoted arm is either maintained in its inoperative position out of the path of travel of the conveyed boxes or cartons, or is prematurely returned to such inoperative position, thereby to prevent jamming of the pivoted arm and the marking wheel carried thereby between such inadequately spaced apart adjacent boxes or cartons on the conveyor.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. l is a top plan view of a marking apparatus embodying the invention, and being shown in the condition thereof immediately before the completion of a marking operation; y

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a pneumatic or compressed air control system employed in the marking apparatus of FIG. 1, and being shown in the condition thereof at the completion of a marking operation;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view simular to that of FIG. l, but showing the condition of the marking apparatus immediately before the commencement of a marking operation;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view, partly broken away and in section, of :one fof the box or carton actuated control valve assemblies included in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, with an actuating finger of such assembly being shown in full lines in its normal position and, in broken lines, in a displaced position to which it is moved by engagement with a conveyed box or carton; and

FIG. 5 is a detail view similar to that of FIG. 4, but illustrating the action of the actuating inger during the eniaoao return of the latter from its displaced position to its normal position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, -a marking lapparatus embodying the present invention is there illustrated and generally identified by the reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 includes a support base 12 which is suitably mounted to one side of a conveyor 14 `forti-ning no part of the present invention and being of conventional construction so as to move successive rectangular boxes, cartons and the like, as indicated at A, along a horizontm rectilinear path.

A standard or post 18 extends upwardly from the base 12 and a horizontal support arm generally identified by the reference numeral 20 is secured on the post 13 in a vertically adjusted position. The support aun 2@ includes portions 22 and 24 extending in opposite directions vfrom ya hub or collar 26 slideable on a post 18 and being releasably clamped or secured relative to the latter, for example, by a set screw Z8; The portion 22 of the support arm extends toward the conveyor 14 and the major portion of its `free end edge 3@ is parallel to the path of travel yof the boxes and carries a bearer strip 32. along which the successive boxes slide during marking of the latter.

A bolt 34 forming a pivot extends upwardly from the support arm portion 22 adjacent the free end of the latter, and an arm, generally identified by the numeral 36 is pivotally mounted on the bolt 34 for swinging in a horizontal plane. The pivoted arm 36 includes two angularly related, integral portions 3S and 49, and the arm portion 38 is formed with a boss 42 at a location which is adjacent to and spaced hom the free end of portion 38 and having a suitable hushed bore receiving the bolt 34. Thus, the pivoted arm 36 is supported adjacent one end and extends generally in the direction opposed to the movement of the conveyed boxes, as indicated by the -arrow 44 on FIG. 1, with the arm portion 40 being bent relative to the -arm portion 3S in the direction toward the conveyor 14 to project into the path of travel of the boxes A when the arm 36 is in the position shown on FIG. l.

At its free end, Ithe arm portion 46 is bifurcated to provide two spaced legs between which a fixed vertical axle 50i extends. A marking wheel 54 is rotatably mounted on the axle S and supports a marking element or elements on its periphery. Since an inked impression or marking is to be applied to the successive conveyed boxes or cartons, an inking roller 58, which is preferably of the kind having an internal ink reservoir feed-ing ink to a surrounding yfelt or other -absorbent pad, is rotatably mounted on -a shaft 60 extending upwardly from a lever arm 62 which is pivotally mounted on arm portion 46 and spring urged in the direction for eecting rolling contact of inkin-g roller 58 with the marking element or elementsV carried by wheel 54.

It is to be noted that the `above described parts and sub-assemblies of. the marking apparatus embodying the present invention for applying markings to aV side surface and the back end surface of each of the conveyed boxes or cartons are substantially the same :as the correspondingly numbered parts and assemblies of the apparatus disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,834,287 for ,applying markin-gs to the front end surface and a side surface of each of the successive conveyed boxes or cartons, with the sole difference being that the Varm 36 of the apparatus being described herein extends from its pivot 34 generally in the 'direction opposed to the direction of movement 44 of the conveyed boxes or cartons whereas, in the marking apparatus disclosed in the -above identified patent, the pivoted arm 36 extends from its pivot 34 generally in the direction of movement of the boxes or cartons to be marked.

' In accordance with the present invention, the swinging movements `of the pivoted arm 36 are effected by a fluid pressure operated actuating cylinder 64 pivotally mounted, at one end, `on -a vertical pin 66 depending n from a flange 68 extending upwardly and to one side :from the lfree end of support arm portion 24. Actuating cylinder 64 has a piston 79 reciprocable axially therein and secured to a piston rod '72 which projects from the end of the cylinder remote from its pivot 66. The end of piston rod 72 is in the form of a fork 74 which is pivotally secured, as by a screw 76, extending through the free end lof arm portion 3S.

Conduits 78 and 80 are suitably connected to the opposite ends of actuating cylinder 64 and are alternately communicated with .a source of compressed air and the atmosphere, respectively. It will be apparent that, when compressed air is supplied to cylinder 64 through conduit 80, piston rod 72 is retracted into cylinder- 64 and swings arm 36 outwardly into the path `of travel of the conveyed boxes or cartons. On the other hand, when compressed air is supplied to actuating cylinder 64 through conduit 7S, piston 71% moves Within the cylinder to extend the piston rod 72 and thereby effects swinging of arm 36 in the direction withdrawing such arm and the marking wheel 54 out of the path of travel of the conveyed boxes or cartons to the inoperative position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring to FlG. 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that a pneumatic or compressed air control system for the marking apparatus 10, as there schematically illustrated, includes a distributing valve 62 which may be of the type that is commercially available from the Mead Specialty Company under the designation Model No. 420. The

vdistrib1 1tin ,1f valve 82 may generally include a body 84 having a bore 86 in which a valve spool S8 is axially slidable. T he body 8d may further have a central port 99 opening into bore S6 and connected by a conduit 92 to a suitable source (not shown) of compressed air, and ports 94 and 96 opening into bore S6 at locations spaced oppositely from the center of the latter and being connected to the conduits 73 and 66, respectively. Body 84 of the distributing valve further has ports at the opposite ends of bore 86 connected to branched conduits 98 and 14N) and to a conduit 162, respectively, which extend to poppet valves it-l, 166 and 108. Finally, body 34 may have vent openings 116 and 112 extending from bore 86 to the atmosphere at locations along the bore between the ports 94- and 96 and the adjacent ends of the bore, respectively.

The valve spool 88 has a central anular recess 114 and auxiliary annular recesses 116 and 118 disposed between central recess 114 and the opposite ends of the valve spool. Spool 38 further has an axial bore 120 extending therethrough and aV radial passage 122 opening from axial bore to the central annular recess 114. The annular recesses of spool S8 and the various ports of valve body S4 are dimensioned and relatively located so that, when spool S8 is shifted toward the right in bore 66, for example, to the position illustrated in FlG. 2, port 96 and conduit 39 are placed in communication with port 96 and conduit 92 extending from the supply of compressed air so that the compressed air admitted to actuating cylinder 64 urges arm 36 outwardly into the path of travel or" the conveyed boxes or cartons A. With the valve spool 8S in the described position, auxiliary recess 116 thereof communicates conduit 7S with the vent opening 116 so that air within actuating cylinder 64 will not resist movement of piston '76 by the compressed air supplied to the actuating cylinder through conduit Si). On the other hand, when valve spool SS is shifted toward the left hand end of bore 56, as viewed in FlG. 2, the connections for the conduits 7 8 and 3@ are reversed, that is, compressed air is supplied to the actuating cylinder to conduit 73 while conduit 86 is connected to the related vent opening 112.

It will be noted that the radial passage 122 of valve spool 83 is always in communication with the port 96 and compressed air supply conduit 92 so that air under pressure is admitted to the opposite ends of bore 85 through axial bore 1213 of the valve spool. The above mentioned shitting of valve spool 88 to one end or the other of bore 86 is achieved by alternately releasing the pressure of air at the opposite ends of bore Se. The release of the pressure of air at one or the other end of bore 86 is achieved by actuation of one of the poppet valves 104 and 106 or by actuation of the poppet valve 10S.

The poppet or limit valves 1114, 106 and 10S may be of a type that is commercially available from the Mead Specialty Company under the designation No. 404. As shown by way of example in FIG. 4, each of the poppet or limit valves may include a hollow valve body 124 suitably connected to the end of the related conduit 98, 106 or 162 and having an air discharge opening 126 at its free end which is normally closed by a ball valve 123 under the iniiuence of a spring 13G. An actuating pin 132 extends from the ball valve 128 loosely through the air discharge opening 126 so that the ball valve 123 can be unseated by depressing the pin 132 to permit the escape of air under pressure from the related conduit through the annular clearance around pin 132.

It will be apparent that the actuation of one of the poppet valves 184, 166 or 158 causes a reduction of the air pressure at the related end of bore 86 so that the valve spool 88 shifts axially toward the end of lower pressure.

Since the pressures at the opposite ends of bore 86 balance when all of the poppet valves 104, 1136 and 198 are closed, valve spool 88 tends to remain in any position to which it is displaced so that shifting of the valve spool from one end to the other end of bore 86 requires only momentary actuation of one of the poppet valves.

As is seen in FIGS. l and 3, poppet valve 104 is secured in a clamp 134 on support portion 22 with its actuating pin 132 located so that it is depressed by the portion 3S of pivoted arm 36 when the latter has swung into the path of travel or the conveyed boxes or cartons to the maximum extent desired, that is, at the end of a marking operation. When actuating pin 132 of poppet valve 164 is depressed by arm portion 3S at the completion of a marking operation, as in FIG. 2, valve spool 88 is accordingly shifted, as described above, to supply cornpressed air to actuating cylinder 64 through conduit 73 while the opposite end of cylinder 64 is vented to the atmosphere through conduit 86, whereby pivoted arm 36 is swung out of the path ot travel of the conveyed boxes or cartons to the inoperative position shown in FIG. 3.

Each of poppet valves 1156 and 163 is associated with an actuating assembly which is generally identied by the reference numeral 136 and has the construction shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each actuating assembly 136 includes a body 138 in which the related valve 166 or 108 is clamped so that its actuating pin 132 extends between two spaced apart ears 140 projecting from body 138. An actuating linger 142 is pivotally mounted on a pin 144 extending between ears 140 and has a forked end extending toward body 13S and carrying a pivot pin 146 on which a tripping member 148 is rockably mounted. A small spring 156 is interposed between actuating linger 142 and tripping member 148 to urge the latter to the position relative to the actuating linger 142 shown in FIG. 4. The tripping member 14S is rockable from such position only in one direction, that is, in the counterclockwise direction about pin 146, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, when actuating linger 142 is rocked in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, to the position shown in broken lines as 142', tripping member 14S rides against actuating pin 132 of the related poppet valve to open the latter. As actuating linger 142 swings further in the counterclockwise direction beyond the position 142', tripping member 14S again releases the actuating pin 132 of the related valve 106 or 108 to permit closing of the latter. On the other hand, during return of actuating linger 142 to the position shown in full lines on FG. 4 under the influence of a tension spring 152 extending between anchor pins 154 and 156 on actuatin g linger 142 and body 138, respectively, tripping member 143 rocks relative to the actuating linger 142, as shown in FIG. 5, and merely rides over the actuating pin 132 of the related poppet valve so that the latter remains in its closed position.

Accordingly, it will be apparent that the poppet valve 166 or 1113 is only momentarily opened during swinging of the related actuating linger 142 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, and remains in its closed position during the return clockwise swinging of the actuating linger to the normal position shown in `full lines on FlG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. l and 3, the actuating assemblies 136 associated with the poppet valves 1116 and 10S are mounted on a frame member 155 or the like of the conveyor 14 at successive spaced apart locations along the path of travel ofthe conveyed boxes or cartons in advance of the location of the base 12 of the marking apparatus, and are arranged so that the actuating lingers 142 of the actuating assemblies normally project into the path of travel and are engaged and rocked out of the path of travel by the successive conveyed boxes or cartons.

During normal operation of the marking apparatus 1), pivoted arm 36 will be in its inoperative position (FIG. 3) as a box or carton approaches the actuating assembly 136 associated with poppet valve 1155. Thus, the engagement and rocking of the linger 142 of that actuating assembly by the conveyed box or carton, which momentarily opens poppet valve 106, will have no eliect in that it merely tends to move valve spool 83 of distributor valve 82 toward the end of the bore 86 to which it had been previously moved by actuation of valve 164 in causing the return swinging of arm 36 to its inoperative position.

However, when the conveyed box or carton subsequently engages and rocks the linger 142 of the actuating assembly 136 associated with poppet valve 103 to momentarily open the latter, the valve spool of distributor valve S2 will be shifted to reverse the connections of conduits 7S and 8u, as previously described herein, and thereby urge arm 36 into the path of travel of the box or carton. As shown clearly in FIG. 3, the actuating assembly 136 associated with poppet valve 108 is located so that, at the moment of its rocking and engagement by a conveyed box or carton, a side surface of the latter will be adjacent the marking wheel 54, whereby the movement of arm 36 into the path of travel of the conveyed box or carton initially effects engagement of marking wheel 54 with the side surface ofthe box or carton. As the conveyed box or carton moves past marking apparatus 1t), marking wheel 54 rolls along the side surface of the box or carton toward the back corner of the latter, and then around such corner and across the back end surface of the box or carton. The movement of marking wheel 54 across the back end surface of the conveyed box or carton is accompanied by further swinging of arm 36 into the path of travel until arm portion 38 engages actuating pin 132 of poppet valve 104 and, as previously described herein, elects return swinging movement of arm 36 back to its inoperative position.

Since marking wheel 54 of apparatus 10 is of the same type as the marking Wheel bearing the same number in United States Letters Patent No. 2,834,287, marking wheel 54 includes a locking or latching device which is not illustrated or described in detail herein and may be similar to the locking or latching device identified by the numeral 106 in the above-identitied patent. Such locking or latching device is operative to hold the marking wheel 54 in a predetermined rotational position relative to its axle 50, at the completion of a marking operation, and Vis released upon the initial Contact of the marking wheel with a side surface of the conveyed box or carton.

ln the event that the spacing between adjacent conveyed boxes or cartons is inadequate to permit the safe completion of a marking operation and the return of pivoted arm 36 to its inoperative position so that some danger exists that the marking wheel 54 will be jammed between adjacent boxes or cartons, the box or carton following the one which is being marked will engage and rock the finger 142 ofthe actuating assembly associated with poppet valve 1% to cause momentary opening of the latter before the normal operation ofthe poppet valve 104 would occur. Such actuation of the poppet valve i556 will shift the spool of distributor valve 82 to the position for swinging arm 36 out of the path of travel and thereby prevent jamming of marking wheel 54 between the adjacent boxes or cartons with inadequate spacing therebetween.

From the above, it will be apparent that the marking apparatus 1t) embodying this invention employs many parts, components and sub-assemblies used in the side and front end marking apparatus oi United States Letters Patent No. 2,834,287, and is operative to mark a side surface and the back end surface of each of the successive conveyed boxes or cartons, with such operation being pneumatically controlled in a simple and reliable manner.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that Various changes and modications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

y1. Apparatus for marking -a side surface and the back surface of each of a series of spaced apart rectangular articles conveyed successively past the apparatus; said apparatus comprising an arm having a marking wheel rotatably mounted at one end, means swingably supporting said arm at the other end thereof for swinging movement into and out of the path of travel of the conveyed articles from and to an inoperative position alongside said path of travel where said arm extends generally iu the direct-ion opposed to the movement oi' the articles, fluid pressure operated actuating means connected to said arm and operative alternatively in rst and second ,directions to swing said arm in the directions from and -to said inoperative position, respectively, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said actuating means including valve means which is actuable to cause said actuating means lto alternatively operate in said rst and second directions, and control means for said valve means including a first control element engageable by a conveyed article moving past the apparatus to cause said valve means to eiect operation of said actuating means in said firstA direction so that said marking wheel rolls alon-g a side surface of the article and across the back surface of the latter during swinging of said arm lfrom its inoperative position, a second control element engageable by said arm lupon a predetermined angular displacement of said arm from said inoperative position to cause said valve means to effect operation of said actuating means in said second direction for returning said arm to its inoperative position upon completion of the marking of a conveyed article, and a third control element disposed adjacent the path of travel of 4the conveyed articles in advance of said iirst control element and being engageable by a conveyed article approaching the apparatus to cause said valve means to eiect operationV of said actuating means in said second `direction so that said arm is returned -to its inoperative position after starting swinging movement vfrom the latter in the event that the conveyed article being marked is followed too closely by the next conveyed article, thereby avoiding jamming of said arm and marking wheel between adjacent conveyed articles.

2. Apparatus for marking a side surface and the back surface yof each of a series of spaced apart rectangular articles conveyed successively past the apparatus; said apparatus comprising an arm having a marking wheel rotatably mounted at one end thereof, support means swingably mounting said arm at the othertend thereof for swinging movement into and out of the path of travel of the conveyed articles from and to an inoperative position where said arm is disposed alongside said path of travel and extends generally in the direction opposed to the movement of the conveyed articles, an actuating cylinder mounted on said support means and having a piston reciprocable therein and connected with said arm to swing the Klatter :from and to said inoperative position when compressed air is supplied to one end of said cylinder and to the other end of saidcylinder, respectively, means for supplying compressed air to said cylinder and including a distributor valve shiftable between first and second positions in which compressed air is directed to said one end and said other end, respectively, or said cylinder, and control means -for said distributor valve including a iirst control element engageable by a conveyed article moving past the apparatus to shift said distributor valve to said first position lfor causing swinging movement of said arm from its inoperative position, a second control element engageable by said arm upon predetermined angular displacement of the latter from said inoperative position to shift said distributor valve to said second position for causing return swinging of said arm to said inoperative position, and a third control element engageable by a conveyed article in advance of said tirst control element to shift said distributor valve to said second position for causing return swinging of said arm to said inoperative position in the event that a conveyed article enga-ging said first control element to cause swinging of said arm from its inoperative position is followed too closely by the next conveyed article.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2; wherein said distributor valve is pneumatically operated to shift between said rst and second positions, and each of said rst, second and third control elements includes a poppet valve operative to cause pneumatic shifting of said distributor valve to the related position. n

4. Apparatus as in claim 2; wherein said distributor valve includes a body having a bore therein 'with a spool sbiftable in said bore between said tirst and second positions, said body yfurther having an inlet passage for compressed air opening into said bore and iirst and second outlet passages extending from said Abore and connected to said one end and said other end of the cylinder, respectively, `said spool directing compressed air from said inlet passage alternatively to said first and second outlet passages in said first and second positions, respectively, of the spool, sa-idV valve further having means admitting compressed air to the opposite ends of said lbore to act against said spool for shifting the latter in response to a difference between the pressures in said ends of the bore; and wherein each or" said first, second and third control Velements includes a normally closed valve connected toY a related end of said bore and operative, when engaged, to 4vent said related end of the bore to atmosphere for producing a difference between the pressures in said ends of the bore and thereby shifting said spool selectively to said lfirst and second positions.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4; wherein said valve of the second control element is a poppet valve mounted on said support means and having a projecting actuating pink opening the puppet Valve when said pin is depressed; and References in 'Lhe fue of his paient wherein each of s aid rst and hird control elemente fur- UNTED STATES PATENTS ther lncudes a prvoted actuatmg finger urged mto sald G E b 7 1933 path Gf 'sravel for rocking by the successive conveyed 1,8161535 Phelps --Fl 3 l 45 articles, and a trip member movably carried by Said 5 329,505 Ward e 1 1 9 finger o depress said actuating pin of the related pepper 214 -31779 Safldes C a June 22 1948 Valve only vduring rocking of said fmger by an article and fg; Ilrfsnef ggg to lde over said in d ring turn of sa'd rincer nto )0 :d

g P u re 1 1 2,8%,659 Hrrschey Apr, 7, 1959 said pah of travel upon release by a conveyed article. 

1. APPARATUS FOR MARKING A SIDE SURFACE AND THE BACK SURFACE OF EACH OF A SERIES OF SPACED APART RECTANGULAR ARTICLES CONVEYED SUCCESSIVELY PAST THE APPARATUS; SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ARM HAVING A MARKING WHEEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED AT ONE END, MEANS SWINGABLY SUPPORTING SAID ARM AT THE OTHER END THEREOF FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE CONVEYED ARTICLES FROM AND TO AN INOPERATIVE POSITION ALONGSIDE SAID PATH OF TRAVEL WHERE SAID ARM EXTENDS GENERALLY IN THE DIRECTION OPPOSED TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE ARTICLES, FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ARM AND OPERATIVE ALTERNATIVELY IN FIRST AND SECOND DIRECTIONS TO SWING SAID ARM IN THE DIRECTIONS FROM AND TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION, RESPECTIVELY, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING VALVE MEANS WHICH IS ACTUABLE TO CAUSE SAID ACTUATING MEANS TO ALTERNATIVELY OPERATE IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND DIRECTIONS, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST CONTROL ELEMENT ENGAGEABLE BY A CONVEYED ARTICLE MOVING PAST THE APPARATUS TO CAUSE SAID VALVE MEANS TO EFFECT OPERATION OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION SO THAT SAID MARKING WHEEL ROLLS ALONG A SIDE SURFACE OF THE ARTICLE AND ACROSS THE BACK SURFACE OF THE LATTER DURING SWINGING OF SAID ARM FROM ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION, A SECOND CONTROL ELEMENT ENGAGEABLE BY SAID ARM UPON A PREDETERMINED ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ARM FROM SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION TO CAUSE SAID VALVE MEANS TO EFFECT OPERATION OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS IN SAID SECOND DIRECTION FOR RETURNING SAID ARM TO ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION UPON COMPLETION OF THE MARKING OF A CONVEYED ARTICLE, AND A THIRD CONTROL ELEMENT DISPOSED ADJACENT THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE CONVEYED ARTICLES IN ADVANCE OF SAID FIRST CONTROL ELEMENT AND BEING ENGAGEABLE BY A CONVEYED ARTICLE APPROACHING THE APPARATUS TO CAUSE SAID VALVE MEANS TO EFFECT OPERATION OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS IN SAID SECOND DIRECTION SO THAT SAID ARM IS RETURNED TO ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION AFTER STARTING SWINGING MOVEMENT FROM THE LATTER IN THE EVENT THAT THE CONVEYED ARTICLE BEING MARKED IS FOLLOWED TOO CLOSELY BY THE NEXT CONVEYED ARTICLE, THEREBY AVOIDING JAMMING OF SAID ARM AND MARKING WHEEL BETWEEN ADJACENT CONVEYED ARTICLES. 